Gov. JB Pritzker has named Teresa Ramos, first deputy vice governor for education, to lead the state’s new early childhood department, his office announced Monday.
If confirmed by the State Senate, Ramos will oversee the launch of a department that is now expected to consolidate functions under the Department of Human Services, the Board of Education and the Department of Human Services. childhood and family of the State.
The new department was approved by lawmakers and signed into law by Pritzker earlier this year as part of a series of initiatives to improve early childhood services in Illinois. The department is expected to be fully operational on July 1, 2026, according to the governor’s office. Until then, Ramos will work to grow the agency and its team, a spokesperson for the governor said.
Ramos has already participated in strategic planning for the new agency, the governor’s office said.
Ultimately, the department’s services are expected to include oversight of preschools, interventions for children with disabilities and developmental delays, and licensing of day care centers.
Before joining Pritzker’s administration, Ramos held positions at two education-focused nonprofits, serving as vice president of public policy, research and advocacy at Illinois Action for Children and Director of Community Engagement for Advance Illinois. She worked on Pritzker’s educational transition team in 2018, according to the governor’s office.
Pritzker cited Ramos’ “expertise in education, child care, community engagement and early childhood development” in a press release announcing the appointment.
Ramos’ salary will be $214,988 per year, according to the governor’s office. His salary will not be boosted by the governor’s personal wealth, as has been the case for some of his top aides, a spokesperson said Monday.
The new Department of Early Childhood aims to streamline access to services for families as well as management for the state, Democratic Rep. Mary Beth Canty of Arlington Heights, the bill’s sponsor, said earlier this year.
State lawmakers set aside $14 million to create the new agency from a $53.1 billion budget passed this year.
Licensing of child care centers through DCFS in particular had been a target for restructuring, as some lawmakers and advocates said reassigning that responsibility would allow the struggling agency to better focus on its other services, such as abuse and neglect investigations.
Pritzker has made early childhood education one of his priorities throughout his term.
